Foster care funds: subsidized child care for foster parents.

Existing law establishes the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, under which counties provide payments to foster care providers on behalf of qualified children in foster care. Existing law requires the county to amend its foster care state plan to authorize counties that elect to subsidize child care for foster parents to use specified federal matching funds for that purpose. Under existing law, the county is responsible for 100% of the nonfederal share of payments to foster parents for this purpose. Existing law, the Child Care and Development Services Act, provides child care and development services to children from birth to 13 years of age, inclusive, and their parents, through full- and part-time programs, as specified. The act requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to adopt rules and regulations on eligibility, enrollment, and priority of services needed to implement those programs, and gives priority to neglected or abused children who are recipients of child protective services, or children who are at risk of being neglected or abused, as specified. Existing law also establishes the After School Education and Safety Program for the purpose of creating incentives for establishing locally driven before and after school enrichment programs during schooldays and summer, intersession, or vacation days that partner public schools and communities to provide academic and literacy support and safe, constructive alternatives for youth. This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to amend its foster care state plan to authorize the use of designated state child care and development funds administered by the State Department of Education and After School Education and Safety Program funds, in addition to county funds, as the nonfederal match for specified child care for children receiving protective services, foster children, and children at risk of abuse and neglect, pursuant to criteria specified in the bill. The bill would make conforming changes to the law relating to the payment of the nonfederal share of these costs.